Eluvian

[aestrix]

This isn't their forest. Well, it is, but it's further west than the clan's ever gone before, and it's got Tamlen twitchy. Because he doesn't know these woods. Because anyone could be lurking around the corner, ready to cause trouble at their camp, or drive them away entirely. He's got his hunting partner, though, so the odds are heavily in their favor that they'll spot anyone that comes within two miles, but it still makes him a bit nervous, not knowing everything about this part of the forest.

Within two miles, there are: three shemlen, running for their lives. Following them, there is a bear. Tamlen isn't aware of this, but his hunting partner might be able to figure it out.

Comments

[pythbox]

"How do you know about the bear?!" asks the second human.

[aestrix]

"Oh, I don't know. Some mix of the racket, some mix of the smell of you pissing your trousers." For all he knows, that might be how Shiral figured it out, but he didn't ask. He's not taking credit, anyway, just offering plausible methods that she could have used.

[pythbox]

The three humans spend a few moments all staring at each other suspiciously before they decide that the elf must have been joking.

"I-it was a huge bear," says the second human. "And, and monstrous! It chased us out of the cave!"

[aestrix]

"Cave? What cave?"

[pythbox]

"There was a cave. With ruins!" says the second human. "I can prove it! Here—" and he fumbles in his pocket and produces a worn chunk of stone engraved with faded script. "We found this inside!"

[aestrix]

Tamlen takes it, holding it up as if he needs the right 'light' to see it. He hopes Shiral can get a good look at it from where she is. And then he notices something.

"... Is this Elvish? Written Elvish?"

[whatyoumayexpect]

Shiral emerges from cover off to one side and walks over to take the stone from him and study it. (The first human yelps and cowers.)

"It is," she says. "Interesting. Where exactly did you find this cave, shemlen?"

"Uh - to the west," says the second human, staring. "Where did you come from?"

"Over there," she says dryly, indicating the tree whose shadow she was standing in. "You just weren't paying attention. Humans seldom do, in my experience."

[aestrix]

Tamlen doesn't say (with affection), 'In comparison to you, just about everyone's not paying attention.' They're working, here. And it's not like she's wrong, humans do seldom notice even him, and he's not Shiral. But she's definitely something special. He's certain that his expression's said whatever there is to say for him, anyway. So it's no loss to not be able to say it in front of the humans.

"Indeed. The bear was making its nest in the cave, and you disturbed it?"

[whatyoumayexpect]

"I don't know what it was doing in that cave," says the second human, shuddering. "It came after us and we ran."

"Yes," says Shiral. "You may continue running, if it pleases you."

The second human correctly interprets this suggestion before either of his friends, and says "Th-thank you!" and tugs on a sleeve to get his companions going. Shiral watches and listens to make sure they're not headed on a path that will take them anywhere near the elves' camp, and then goes back to examining the stone.

"This cave sounds very interesting," she says. "Want to have a look?"

[aestrix]

"It seems fascinating," agrees Tamlen. "Written Elvish. Should we tell the Keeper before we go, or go now in hopes of beating the bear back to its den?"

[whatyoumayexpect]

"If we beat the bear back to its den, it will have us cornered there," she points out. "And I'm not convinced bears are the only danger in that place. One of those shemlen had a fragment of spiderweb clinging to his sleeve. But we might as well find the cave before telling anyone about it."

[aestrix]

"Fair," he snorts. "The Keeper would just say, 'Shiral, take Tamlen with you to carry the quiver while you find the cave, then come back and tell us about it' anyway."

He says this with affection. He's well aware which one of them's pulling more weight here, and he is completely fine with it.

[whatyoumayexpect]

She grins. "You're slightly more useful than that, Tamlen."

[aestrix]

"I know," he says brightly. "But the point remains."

[whatyoumayexpect]

"Yes. All right. This way."

She hands him back the stone with writing on it and heads off in the direction the humans came from.

[aestrix]

Tamlen follows, switching between checking the surrounding area for anything that Shiral hasn't spotted (unlikely, but worth the effort) and trying to read the writing on the stone.

"I think," he pronounces, "that one word on it says the word 'sun.' Also another possibly says either 'lobster' or 'pearl' but I can't figure out which."

[whatyoumayexpect]

"See? You hold the quiver and decipher ancient writings," she says. "That must be the cave up ahead. I smell spiders. Bear, too, sort of."

[aestrix]

"I think the Keeper or the First could do a better job of deciphering, but thank you. 'Sort of'? Sort of in what way?"

[whatyoumayexpect]

"In... an unfamiliar way. The shemlen called it 'monstrous'; I'm less and less inclined to doubt them."

[aestrix]

"... Diseased? Sick and monstrous from pain?" muses Tamlen. "Or monstrous from - some sort of other source, such as magic? Do you know?"

[whatyoumayexpect]

"I can't tell for certain, just from a bear that smells odd," she says. "But I think whatever is wrong with it goes beyond ordinary sickness."

[aestrix]

"That makes me nervous." Tamlen pockets the stone, and looks around suspiciously. Nope, no bears, but it couldn't hurt to look.

[whatyoumayexpect]

"I don't think it's nearby. It may have gone back into the cave, or it may be out wandering."

She stops at the cave entrance and peers in past tangles of dying thornbushes.

"Cheerful place," she remarks.

[aestrix]

"Very. Let's move the entire camp here, invite the shems for a party, maybe."

There's a sound. It's not a good sound. Like some sort of warped creature that's mocking sentient life.

Tamlen goes utterly silent. Obviously he heard the sound. He makes a little nervous hand motion that asks, 'Time to go?'

[whatyoumayexpect]

Shiral nods sharply, and turns away from the cave entrance—

And stops.

"Whatever made that noise, it's got us surrounded," she murmurs. "Two back the way we came, and another three at least to the south... either they know we're here, or that's just how they travel... wearing armour, leather and chainmail, and I just heard someone unsheath a blade. Giant cave spiders and monstrous bears seem pleasant in comparison. Let's get in the cave."